Monday, July 27, 2015

7 Common Crochet Mistakes

Even the most experienced of crocheters can run into problems with crochet. I've compiled a list of 7 common crochet mistakes and some advice/resources that hopefully can help you overcome them!

1. Miscounting stitches. This is a common mistake among crochet newbies and veterans! Being off one little stitch can result in a yarny catastrophe! Having the wrong amount of stitches is frustrating, so I highly recommend making a habit out of double checking counting. (And yes, I'm still working on making this a habit myself!) Stitch markers can be a big help with this!

2. Uneven, too tight or too loose tension. Again, this is a common beginner mistake. I remember when I was young and first learning to crochet this was my biggest problem! My stitching was always way too tight. Really, the only remedy for tension problems is practice, practice and more practice!

3. Using the wrong yarn. You cannot using worsted weight yarn for a pattern than calls for baby weight and expect it to come out the way the pattern says it will! Sometimes figuring out the type of yarn you need is confusing. This standard yarn weight chart is very helpful when trying to determine what kind of yarn you can use for a pattern.

4. Crocheting in the wrong loops or loop. Unless otherwise stated in the pattern, you typically insert your crochet hook into the front and back loops of each stitch. If you find yourself confused about where to insert your hook, check out this post on crocheting in front, back or both loops.

5. Not asking/looking for help. If you know someone who understands crochet better than you, ask for help! (I can't tell you how many times I begged my mom to help me with projects!) Even if you don't know somebody who crochets and can help you with a new stitch or complicated pattern, you still have resources! Google has a wealth of picture and video tutorials. Asking or looking for help can save a lot of time and frustration.

6. Not learning to read patterns. I remember when I was first learning to crochet I was overwhelmed by the most basic of patterns. I wanted my mom to just dictate to me what to do. Sometimes she would try to help me understand the pattern, other times she left me to my own devices. It took a long time for me to feel confidant in pattern reading, but I'm glad my mom taught me! If you are new and are still confused by patterns, you can find a helpful video here: Learn to Read a Crochet Pattern.

7. Giving up. Even as an experienced crocheter, I sometimes find myself in the middle of a difficult pattern and want to give up! Giving up never made anyone get better at something. It never taught anyone a new skill. As tempting as it sometimes is, don't give up! Sometimes, putting the frustrating projects away for a few days can help clear your head. Sometimes, you just have to unravel the whole thing and start over. (BLECH! I know.) Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and get help. (See #5!) But if you don't give up, you'll be rewarded with pride in your finished product! There are few things more satisfying than creating something you thought you never could.

Hi, what a nice blog is this! I became your new follower today :-)My common mistakes? I'm not good in reading patterns, so I usually miscount...But perfection is boring and you can always hide the mistakes in one way or another.That's what I do though :-)Wishing you a nice day and looking forward to your next creations!Sigrid